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Kibira Sacred Forest
Northwestern Burundi (Congo-Nile divide), straddling Nyungwe (Rwanda)
Burundi
Active (national park since 1980)
Regional cluster
- Location
- Northwestern Burundi (Congo-Nile divide), straddling Nyungwe (Rwanda)
- Coordinates
- ~3.0°S 29.5°E
- Elevation
- ~1,600–2,600 m montane
- Size
- ~40,000 ha (Kibira National Park)
- Age / Founded
- Ancient; royal hunting reserve until 1933
- Status
- Active (national park since 1980)
- Deity & Religion
- Sacred/magical character; Burundian traditional belief (royal)
- Community & Guardians
- Local communities; historically Burundi kings
- Vernacular name
- Sacred royal forest
- Record type
- Regional cluster
Cultural practices & uses
Former royal hunting reserve invested with magical power; sacredness aided conservation
Plant species
Albertine Rift montane rainforest
Biome & fauna
Montane rainforest — most important site in Burundi for montane-forest birds; primates
Threats & protection
Kibira National Park; pre-colonial sacred status conserved it
Source
Kibira National Park (Wikipedia)